| Thursday, May 1, 2025 |
| MSU students gets resources on campus before finals week | |
 | As the school year wraps up, college students are closing the semester with final exams on their agenda. MSU hosted its annual PAWs before finals event on the drill field. This allowed students to take a break before the wave of exam week. There were free snacks, drinks, and resources for students to de-stress. Those involved said events like this are important to recharge and finish the semester strong. "Of course, you know, being located right here on campus, we have kind of a special interest in supporting the Mississippi State community," Ryan Harra said. "Given how stressful finals can be for students, we wanted to make sure they know they have a whole lot of resources here on campus, the Counseling Center, and stuff like that. But, we are also an additional resource that has no cost barrier and no limit on sessions that we are able to provide." The event was hosted by the Office of Parent and Family Services. |
| Starkville Named Best Small Town In The South By USA Today | |
 | USA Today's readers declared the college town of Starkville, Mississippi, the best small town in the South for a second time. Starkville has a "thriving arts scene, multiple historic districts, many opportunities for birdwatching, and plenty of great food," USA Today notes. The historic downtown hosts the King Cotton Crawfish Boil, an arts festival, and a Christmas parade every year. Starkville is home to Mississippi State University -- the state's largest college -- which makes for lively game days. Campus is also a beautiful place to stroll or explore The Ulysses S. Grant Presidential Library, which holds an extensive collection of correspondence and memorabilia by and about the 18th president. The Home of the Bulldogs has a population of just under 25,000. Starkville residents appreciate the town's family-friendly atmosphere and affordable housing. This is the second year in a row that USA Today ranked Starkville No. 1 in the South. Readers vote on a selection of small towns chosen by travel experts. |
| MSU PD acknowledges contributions from K9 unit | |
| Safety is a primary concern on college campuses. But campus police forces tend to be smaller than their neighboring departments. At Mississippi State, they make use of some special officers. Dogs are considered man's best friend. They can also provide an extra level of security. Students and faculty said they also feel secure when they know the K9 unit is doing its job on campus. Mississippi State University Police Assistant Chief Brian Locke said the K9s play a vital role in keeping the campus safe. "Ultimately, their senses are 100 times greater than ours are, so every athletic event we have, every large gathering we have is an opportunity to use those K9s, particularly our explosive K9s, so they can do sweeps and make sure the area is clear," Locke said. "There's a lot of comfort in knowing once a K9 has been through that, hey, that area is clear and everybody can enjoy it." And when it comes to relationship building between students and officers, the K-9's are some of the department's best ambassadors. |
| Starkville nonprofits 'devastated' by DOGE cuts to VISTA program | |
 | Cornelius Edmond logged into his email Monday afternoon, intending to accept an offer for a third year with AmeriCorps VISTA, a federal volunteer program. Instead, he found an email from AmeriCorps informing him that his position with the Starkville Area Arts Council as the arts programming assistant had been terminated, effective immediately. "At first I was like, 'Is this a scam? Is this a phishing situation? Did I do something wrong?'" Edmond recalled. "As I was reading it, I noticed that the whole entire project had been terminated, and that's when I realized this is something bigger than just me." Edmond is one of thousands of AmeriCorps VISTA employees placed on sudden administrative leave after the Department of Government Efficiency ordered the agency to cut nearly $400 million in funding last week. VISTA employees were told by email they would be placed on paid leave through May 19, during which time they should seek reassignment, or else they would be terminated. Edmond has worked with AmeriCorps through Mississippi State University's Maroon Volunteer Center since July 2023. The center served as a site for AmeriCorps employees to be connected with area nonprofits -- receiving $202,733 in annual federal grants for the program -- until funding was cut Monday morning. "The AmeriCorps VISTA position at MSU will be among the 30,000 AmeriCorps VISTA members being forced to exit their programs prematurely," said Sid Salter, MSU vice president for strategic communications and director of public affairs. |
| DOGE hits Trump country: Red states have borne the brunt of DOGE's targeting of AmeriCorps | |
 | Three months in, it's become abundantly clear that it's not just federal Washington-based programs and overseas aid that are feeling the wrath of Elon Musk and DOGE. The cuts are hitting home in the reddest parts of the country, and Republican elected officials are starting to push back. Abrupt cuts at AmeriCorps this week have landed hard in deep red states with high poverty rates like West Virginia, Mississippi and Alabama, where national service programs have long-filled gaps in education, disaster response and job training. On Friday, AmeriCorps, at the behest of DOGE, unexpectedly terminated nearly $400 million in grants, more than 40 percent of the agency's grant funds. The move affects more than 1,000 grantees and sidelines more than 32,000 AmeriCorps members nationwide. Commissions in all 50 states were notified of terminations. In some states, including Alabama and Wyoming, the entire grant portfolio was axed. They are grants to build homes, respond to disasters and support veterans -- the type of work that tends to win bipartisan support. "All those services are so well used in Louisiana," said Billy Nungesser, the Republican Lt. Gov of Louisiana, where 13 AmeriCorps programs were cut, hitting 330 volunteers, including around three dozen veterans placed in universities and community college campuses to help other veterans transition back to civilian life. |
| Mary Means Business: Taco Amigo Starkville location opening soon | |
| Taco Amigo's Starkville expansion is moving in the right direction. In December, I reported that the Taco Amigo food truck in Columbus was planning to open a restaurant in Starkvegas. Owner Isabel Vanegas opened the Taco Amigo food truck about five years ago, selling authentic Mexican cuisine. Her patrons continually asked for a Starkville location and she announced she would open a restaurant near Clayton Village. Here we are, folks. Taco Amigo's sign is up at the former Jean Cafe at 12072 Hwy. 182. Vanegas said the restaurant should open in the next two weeks, serving tamales, picaditas, sopes, nachos, burritos and even breakfast staples like huevos la mexicana. "We are so excited," she said. "It (will) be open real soon." ... With a weekend full of local events, we also have the Starkville Derby on Saturday. This is the world's largest charity wiener dog race's third year with Grand Marshalls and former MSU football stars Jeffrey Simmons and JT Gray. The event opens at 8:30 a.m. with races beginning at 10 a.m. Head out toward the Cotton District and check out the event benefiting the Oktibbeha County Humane Society. Last year, the Starkville Derby hosted more than 50,000 visitors and was named Best Large Festival of the Year by the Mississippi Tourism Association. |
| Namaste in Tupelo offers taste of authentic Indian cuisine | |
 | Indian cuisine makes a return to the All-America City more than a decade after the last eatery to serve it closed. Namaste, located in Tupelo Commons in what had been Crossroads Rib Shack, makes its official debut Thursday at 11 a.m., promising to deliver authentic Indian cuisine from chefs and cooks brought in from across the country. Business partners Gagan Singh and Harjit Singh said the location is ideal for reintroducing Tupelo to Indian food. "It's right in the middle of all the traffic; you have the mall nearby, Ashley Furniture next to us, the surrounding hotels and other restaurants and theater, and new things coming all the time," Gagan Singh said. "And Target announcing it was coming was another plus point." As for the menu, most of it represents northern India, with a few southern Indian dishes. Diners will find butter chicken, tikka masala, Vindaloo curries and naan, but vegetarian and gluten-free options will be available. Two tandoori ovens stand inside the kitchen, one used to grill meats and one for naan, and some tandoori oven specials include Malai kebabs (chicken breast marinated in a rich blend of sour cream, cream cheese and aromatic spices), seekh kebab (specially ground meat marinated with Indian herbs and spices), lamb chops, boti kebab (beef tenderloin) and more. |
| Imagine a program that uses math to make your decisions. It's here in South Mississippi | |
 | Those who struggle to make decisions and then second guess their choices can turn to a company in South Mississippi to provide the right answers. It isn't artificial intelligence, spreadsheets or trial and error. Optimal Answers uses math and computer software to look at infinite possibilities and find the best solution for the most complex problems and most enticing opportunities. This decision optimization software also saves money, says Brient Mayfield, CEO and founder. "Typical savings using Optimal are 5%-10% of whatever the financial value is that's optimized -- often more," he said, and the savings typically exceed the cost of the service. "So one of the great aspects of our technology is there's no ambiguity about the savings, and therefore the payback," he said. Optimal is a powerful tool for businesses and governments dealing with fleets of trucks and dozens or hundreds of employees. Optimal Answers finds the most efficient and cost-effective option to buy supplies, set prices, manage inventory and schedule employees. The company is headquartered in Gulfport and works on projects well beyond Mississippi. |
| Governor talking energy with industry executives in closed-door meeting | |
 | As rumors swirl over what Gov. Tate Reeves will include in this year's upcoming special legislative session, he has invited energy executives and experts to Jackson on Thursday, May 1, for a closed-door meeting. Reeves, who has long touted his agenda and successes in regard to economic development, is hoping to ask the energy leaders on Thursday, May 1, what the state needs to do better in terms of energy production, recruitment and regulation. A document obtained by the Clarion Ledger detailing the meeting, called the Mississippi Power Play Summit, also includes plans to hold a press conference Reeves plans to hold on Thursday afternoon. Mississippi Development Authority Executive Director Bill Cork and Public Service Commissioner De'Keither Stamps both confirmed the meeting. Cork also said there were no plans for an energy-related development in the special session slated to happen before July 1. During Thursday's sit down with energy folks, the agenda provided to the Clarion Ledger includes a speech from Reeves focusing on how the state will try to lead in the energy space and its grid capacity. |
| Maj. Gen. Kelly retires from Guard, is honored | |
| Union native John Trent Kelly, the Assistant Adjutant General of the Mississippi National Guard, was recently recognized by Gov. Tate Reeves, who hosted a retirement ceremony at the state Capitol. Maj. Gen. Kelly began his military career in 1985 at the age of 19 when he enlisted in the Mississippi Army National Guard and was assigned to the 134th Engineer Company in Union following Basic Combat Training. He was later sworn in as a cadet in the Reserve Officer Training Corps at the University of Mississippi and commissioned as an Engineer Officer on May 14, 1988. Kelly is the son of Barbara and John Kelly. He graduated from Union High School, East Central Community College, and the University of Mississippi, where he earned both his bachelor's and juris doctor degrees. In 2015, Kelly was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in Mississippi's First Congressional District, where he continues to serve while completing a distinguished military career. Maj. Gen. Kelly has been married to his wife Sheila Stephens Kelly for 34 years. They live in Saltillo and have three children: John Forrest, Morgan, and Jackson. They are members of the Saltillo Methodist Church. |
| Sen. Roger Wicker introduces bill aimed at financial flexibility of state and local governments | |
| U.S. Sen Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) and Democratic counterpart Sen. Michael Bennet (D-Colo.) partnered to introduce a bill called the Lifting Our Communities through Advance Liquidity for Infrastructure Act of 2025. The LOCAL Act would amend the current federal tax code to restore state and local governments' ability to use advance refunding to manage bond debt, reducing borrowing costs for public infrastructure projects. Wicker says the measure would directly contribute to lowering the barrier to infrastructure improvements by state and local governments across the country. "Restoring advance refunding would help community leaders manage their existing debts and allow for more investment to improve their existing infrastructure," Wicker said. "Local leaders know what their states need best, and it's important to give them the resources to ensure their community's success." Advance refunding is a financial tool that allows state and local governments to refinance outstanding municipal bond debt to more favorable borrowing rates or conditions before the end of the bond terms on a tax-exempt basis. The process is similar to homeowners refinancing their mortgages to secure a lower interest rate. |
| Lawmakers Echo Trump's Aims With Bill to Revive U.S. Shipbuilding | |
 | U.S. lawmakers are launching the biggest push in decades to revitalize American shipbuilding. A bipartisan group of legislators reintroduced a bill Wednesday to stimulate demand for hundreds of U.S.-built ships and to boost America's ranks of shipbuilders and sailors. The Shipbuilding and Harbor Infrastructure for Prosperity and Security for America Act includes tax incentives for shipyard improvements, the establishment of a Maritime Security Trust Fund to pay for investments and a target to more than triple the number of U.S.-built vessels conducting international trade. Resurrecting American shipbuilding won't be easy. Each year, U.S. shipyards produce a handful of large commercial ships, compared with hundreds of vessels that are pumped out of Chinese shipyards. The SHIPS for America Act provides a rare moment of bipartisan unity in Washington. "This bill's pretty popular right now and has broad industry support and bipartisan support in the House and Senate," said Sen. Mark Kelly, a Democrat from Arizona who is among the co-sponsors of the bill. The other sponsors are Sen. Todd Young (R., Ind.), Rep. John Garamendi (D., Calif.) and Rep. Trent Kelly (R., Miss.). |
| U.S. Army Plans Massive Increase in Its Use of Drones | |
| The U.S. Army is embarking on its largest overhaul since the end of the Cold War, with plans to equip each of its combat divisions with around 1,000 drones and to shed outmoded weapons and other equipment. The plan, the product of more than a year of experimentation at this huge training range in Bavaria and other U.S. bases, draws heavily on lessons from the war in Ukraine, where small unmanned aircraft used in large numbers have transformed the battlefield. The Army's 10 active-duty divisions would shift heavily into unmanned aircraft if the plan is carried out, using them for surveillance, to move supplies and to carry out attacks. To glean the lessons from Ukraine's war against Russia, U.S. officers have debriefed its military personnel and consulted contractors who have worked with Kyiv's military about their innovative use of drones. "We've got to learn how to use drones, how to fight with them, how to scale them, produce them, and employ them in our fights so we can see beyond line of sight," said Col. Donald Neal, the commander of the U.S. 2nd Cavalry Regiment. "We've always had drones since I've been in the Army, but it has been very few." The "Army Transformation Initiative," as the service's blueprint is known, comes as Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency has been seeking to slash spending and personnel across the government. |
| Oversight panel endorses cuts to federal retirement system | |
 | Republicans on the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee advanced their portion of the GOP's massive budget reconciliation package Wednesday, but not without dissent from one of their own. After a six-hour markup, the panel voted 22-21, with GOP Rep. Michael R. Turner of Ohio joining all Democrats in opposition. The legislation would cut federal employees' take-home pay, trim their pensions and shrink their job protections to reduce national deficits by more than $50 billion over 10 years. In his opening remarks, Turner outlined his objections. "I don't believe it represents Republican values or American values," he said. "I believe making changes to pension benefits in the middle of employment is wrong. Employee benefits are not a gift. They are earned." The largest proposal would increase revenues by $30.7 billion by requiring long-serving federal workers to increase their contributions into the Federal Employees Retirement System, or FERS, to 4.4 percent. Currently, those hired before 2014 pay lower rates. Another provision in the legislation would require new federal employees to contribute an additional 5 percent of their paychecks into FERS, effectively raising their contribution rate to 9.4 percent, unless they agreed to waive their civil service protections and work as at-will employees. "This is called extortion," said Rep. Melanie Stansbury, D-N.M., during the markup. "This is all about cutting federal workers, punishing federal workers, making life harder for Americans and destroying the federal workforce." |
| GOP lawmakers say economic numbers are a major red flag for Trump | |
 | Republican lawmakers say economic data released Wednesday is flashing a warning about the growing impact of President Trump's trade war, which they fear could lead to a sharp political backlash. They say it is beginning to confirm what they feared for weeks, that Trump's threats to impose steep tariffs on dozens of foreign trading partners and his zigzagging style of announcing new fees only to then later backtrack is creating significant uncertainty within the economy. "I don't think there is any doubt that the tariffs and trade war has injected a lot of uncertainty and instability into the economy. I think investment, what I'm hearing from businesses, is drying up. That's not good," Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) said. Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), who has introduced legislation to curtail Trump's power to impose new tariffs by requiring that Congress approve them within 60 days, said Wednesday's gross domestic product report reflects growing uncertainty in the economy. "When things change in Washington, it has an impact of everybody's buying and selling," he said. Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), who faces a competitive reelection next year in a swing state that Trump narrowly won, says Republican candidates will face "headwinds" the longer the trade war drags on. Tillis warned that if the economy continues to weaken, it could affect work on Trump's legislative agenda by diminishing how much revenue various proposals are likely to generate. |
| The GOP plan to fund Trump's agenda is running into a major roadblock: Trump | |
| President Donald Trump is skeptical of congressional Republicans' emerging plans to make deep cuts to Medicaid, the safety-net health program covering nearly 80 million Americans, six people close to the president said. Speaker Mike Johnson and other House leaders are zeroing in on a framework that would roll back part of the Medicaid expansion enacted under President Barack Obama, generating hundreds of billions of dollars in savings to help pay for the rest of Trump's legislative agenda -- including sweeping tax cuts plus border security and defense spending. But while Trump has agreed to target waste, fraud and abuse, he remains profoundly wary about pursuing anything that might be construed as "cuts" to a program he has vowed over and over again to protect, according to six White House officials and top allies of the president. Having experienced the political backlash that followed his failed 2017 effort to undo other parts of the Affordable Care Act, he has told associates in multiple recent meetings he's uncomfortable with some of the ideas being bandied around on the Hill. "Trump is definitely not convinced on reductions in Medicaid spending," said one outside adviser granted anonymity to discuss the high-level deliberations. "His own instincts are that politically it's not good, and Trump's political instincts are pretty good." |
| Elon Musk gives glimpse inside White House as he steps back from DOGE | |
 | Elon Musk never asked to stay in the Lincoln Bedroom. He wants that to be very clear. That's just where he says President Donald Trump, who loves giving tours of the famous guest suite, sets him up when he stays over at the White House. "We'll be on Air Force One, and Marine One, and he'll be like, 'Do you want to stay over?' And I'm like, 'sure,'" Musk said. "He'll actually call, like late at night, and say, like, 'Oh, by the way, make sure you get some ice cream from the kitchen.'" From late-night ice cream runs at Trump's invitation -- caramel-flavored Haagen Dazs, to be exact -- to better decisions he says he could have made, the billionaire tech mogul who heads the Department of Government Efficiency pulled back the curtain on his time working, and sleeping, at the White House in a group interview with a dozen journalists. Musk, the world's richest man, is preparing to significantly scale back his role leading the cost-cutting DOGE, which has taken a battering ram to the federal government, slashing programs and cutting workers. Musk has maintained a frequent presence in the White House during Trump's first 100 days, sometimes working in the building that doubles as the president's residence seven days a week overseeing DOGE, he said. But moving forward, Musk said he expects to spend about a day or two per week working on DOGE matters and "every other week" in Washington as he diverts his attention back to his electric vehicle company Tesla. |
| DOGE Put a College Student in Charge of Using AI to Rewrite Regulations | |
 | A young man with no government experience who has yet to even complete his undergraduate degree is working for Elon Musk's so-called Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) at the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and has been tasked with using artificial intelligence to rewrite the agency's rules and regulations. Christopher Sweet was introduced to HUD employees as being originally from San Francisco and most recently a third-year at the University of Chicago, where he was studying economics and data science, in an email sent to staffers earlier this month. "I'd like to share with you that Chris Sweet has joined the HUD DOGE team with the title of special assistant, although a better title might be 'Al computer programming quant analyst,'" Scott Langmack, a DOGE staffer and chief operating officer of an AI real estate company, wrote in an email widely shared within the agency and reviewed by WIRED. Sweet's primary role appears to be leading an effort to leverage artificial intelligence to review HUD's regulations, compare them to the laws on which they are based, and identify areas where rules can be relaxed or removed altogether. One HUD source says they were told that the AI model being used for this project is "being refined by our work to be used across the government." |
| Funding cuts threaten to deepen hunger crisis as rising costs send more families to food banks | |
 | The Campaign Against Hunger was already struggling to feed thousands of families a week when the Trump administration pulled more than $1.3 million in grants. Demand has only increased at the New York nonprofit since the city emerged from the COVID-19 pandemic and the related economic insecurity. In a first for the pantry, however, it isn't just the jobless lining up for its fresh produce and meats. It's working people, too. Food banks typically see the most need during periods of high unemployment and yet the U.S. is facing down a hunger crisis during a relatively resilient labor market. The latest U.S. Department of Agriculture research showed there were one million more food insecure households in 2023 than 2022. Now, income stagnation and rising living costs are sending wage earners to food banks across the country -- all as the federal government shuts off funding streams that provide millions with healthier, harder-to-get groceries. The squeeze comes as Republicans discuss budget plans that hunger relief groups fear will deepen the crisis by slashing food stamp spending. A 2022 study measuring food pantries' value suggests participating families obtain between $600 and $1000 annually from them. That's equivalent to a couple months of food for some low-income households, according to co-author David Just, an applied economics professor at Cornell University. Food insecurity nationwide is the highest it's been in about a decade, according to Just, making it "potentially a really difficult time to start cutting food assistance through the pantries." |
| Kamala Harris blasts Trump's policies in first major speech since leaving office | |
 | Former Vice President Kamala Harris, in her sharpest remarks about President Trump since leaving office, blasted his policies as a dangerous betrayal of the nation's founding principles and warned Wednesday of a looming constitutional crisis. "Now I know tonight's event happens to coincide with the 100 days after the inauguration," she told about 500 people at a fundraising gala at the Palace Hotel in San Francisco. "And I'll leave it to others to give a full accounting of what has happened so far. But I will say this, instead of an administration working to advance America's highest ideals, we are witnessing the wholesale abandonment of those ideals." The end result -- cutting the size of government, privatizing services, giving tax breaks to the rich and slashing public education -- predate Trump and are the outcome of decades-long efforts to reshape the nation's norms and safety net, she said. "It's an agenda. A narrow, self-serving vision of America where they punish truth tellers, favor loyalists, cash in on their power, and leave everyone to fend for themselves," Harris said. "All while abandoning allies and retreating from the world. And folks, what we are experiencing right now is exactly what they envision for America. Right now, we are living in their vision for America. But this is not a vision that Americans want." A Trump spokesman dismissed Harris' remarks. |
| University cuts support for Oxford Pride | |
 | The University of Mississippi is pulling all affiliated resources and involvement in the 2025 Oxford Pride Parade in an effort to comply with the new Mississippi law restricting diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) practices in public schools. The parade will go on as planned this Saturday at 2 p.m. as part of the wider Oxford Pride events, which are themed "Defying Gravity" this year. It will start and end at the Oxford-University Depot. The Justice for Jay Lee organization has been named the honorary grand marshal. Unlike prior years, however, the university will not assist with the parade as the institution grapples with the impact of Mississippi House Bill 1193. The bill prohibits DEI statements and practices in public K-12 and postsecondary schools, disallowing the promotion of "transgender ideology," pronouns and the usage of DEI programs within these institutions, among other things. HB 1193 was approved by Gov. Tate Reeves on April 17 after passing both chambers of the Mississippi Legislature. "The 2025 Oxford Pride Parade will continue with support from many community partners. This year, the university has paused its institutional support as leadership evaluates the impact of new state legislation on university involvement in events and activities," Jacob Batte, director of news and media relations at the university, said. "The university remains committed to fostering a welcoming environment for all while ensuring compliance with state law." |
| Research, restoration efforts continue 15 years after Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill | |
 | It's been 15 years since the BP-operated Deepwater Horizon oil rig explosion leaked millions of gallons of oil into the Gulf of Mexico, taking the lives of 11 workers and injuring many others in its wake. "It just kept escalating," Jessie Kastler says. "Everybody was in a bit of a state, trying to figure out, 'What can I do? I'm an environmental scientist, I'm an educator, I have skills. How can I use them?'" For 87 days, emergency response teams, as well as environmentalists, watched crude oil from the oil rig pour into the Gulf of Mexico. The University of Southern Mississippi has had researchers involved since the early stages of the 2010 disaster. Kastler, currently the Director of the Marine Education Center, was one of them. Just 11 days after the explosion, work to sample waters and track the spill's contamination began. "My role turned out to be in offering trustworthy event-based evidence as it was becoming available through the research efforts of our scientists," Kastler explains. Despite the 15-year age of the incident, the oil spill response has yet to cease. |
| 'Cash Money' inspires owner to continue legacy of 'comfort and care' to USM family | |
 | Wednesday is National Therapy Animal Day, a time to celebrate the four-legged companions who bring comfort and care to those who need it most. "My day is just so much better when I see a dog," said USM student Carter Cooke. In light of the day, eight therapy dogs and their handlers visited Southern Miss's campus on Centennial Lawn. "If I hear word that any of the therapy dogs are on campus, I make a beeline from my regular route for the day to go and pet them," said USM student Amarely Salinas. Whether it was an American Bully, a Golden Retriever or even a giant Schnauzer, dozens of students stopped by to say hello to the campus visitors. "It feels like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders and I'm not worried about my classes for a little bit," said USM student Elizabeth Sudduth. Mel Lowery was one of the handlers. Lowery started her journey with therapy animals alongside her Golden Retriever, "Cash Money." "Before him, we didn't have any therapy dogs on the USM campus, and so, we brought him here and we just really got to know the students and love them and realize they did need something like this," said Lowery. Lowery and Cash volunteered on USM's campus, at nursing homes and in hospitals, bringing comfort to anyone who needed it. |
| Music beyond academics: Mississippi College students carve out independent music scene | |
| In Clinton, Mississippi College has long been a nurturing ground for musical talent, producing artists who have significantly contributed to various genres. While the college's Department of Music offers a comprehensive education that combines rigorous academic training and many performance opportunities, musical talent at MC transcends the classroom. One such group is a band called Broken Halos, a group consisting of MC students who found their musical synergy outside of their academic classes. "It's been a solo project for a long time. The solo project started when COVID hit and I wanted something to leave that time with," lead band member Nate Brock said. "I thought songwriting sounded more fun than Zoom class! I think I always wanted it to be a band with multiple members, especially for live setups, but I was waiting for the right people." Increasingly, A growing number of MC students are creating and producing their original music outside of the college's formal music department, forging their creative paths from their dorm rooms, piecing together beats, lyrics, and melodies in between classes with the help of unexpected campus resources, like the Institute for Southern Storytelling, making some of the university's exciting new sounds coming from students with no formal and rigorous music training. |
| Nick Saban to join Donald Trump at U. of Alabama commencement event | |
 | A potentially polarizing commencement event at the University of Alabama will now include one of the most beloved Alabama figures ever. President Donald Trump announced last week that he would be giving a commencement address to the university's graduating class of 2025. "The ceremony will celebrate the UA class of 2025 and feature an address from President Donald J. Trump along with comments from UA President Stuart R. Bell and Nick Saban, former coach of the Crimson Tide football team," the university said in a press release. Bell stepped down earlier this year after 10 years. The event is scheduled to take place Thursday at the University of Alabama at 6:30 p.m. in Coleman Coliseum. While Trump chose to speak in Alabama, which has strongly supported him in the past three elections, the event is expected to draw many anti-Trump protests across Tuscaloosa including from the students and even prominent outsiders. The UA College Democrats are slated to hold a protest dubbed, "Tide Against Trump," on Thursday at Snow Hinton Park from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. The student organization called Trump's attendance an, "insult" and stated that, "UA is not a fascist playground." |
| Graduation: Trump crackdown on DEI cancels some college ceremonies | |
| As a first-generation college student, Austin Kissinger was looking forward to celebrating graduation with others of similar backgrounds who helped each other find their way at the University of Kentucky. Typically, Kentucky students who are the first in their family to graduate from college pick a faculty member to join them in a special ceremony. Earlier this month, the university canceled the ceremony, along with other convocations that recognize Black and LGBTQ+ students, citing the Trump administration's campaign to rein in diversity, equity and inclusion programs. Those student groups pooled resources for a celebration together off campus -- without the school's involvement -- but Kissinger said the about-face left him and others feeling unsupported. "It's kind of like you're taking away our celebration, like you're not letting us embrace who we want to be," said Kissinger, a graduating senior who leads the university's First Generation Student Organization. "You're not letting us represent what we do at the university." At the University of Kentucky, spokesperson Jay Blanton said the main commencement celebrates all students. He said the university did away with others to comply with the law and "how we believe it is being interpreted by the administration." |
| Trump policies could spark protest at Georgia college commencements | |
| During last year's college commencement season, several Georgia schools saw pro-Palestine protests during ceremonies. This year, they are navigating an uncertain federal landscape where the funding they largely depend on, and perhaps their autonomy and academic freedom, is at risk. Those tensions could play out during this year's ceremonies that begin this weekend at Georgia Tech and Oglethorpe University. President Donald Trump's first 100 days in office have been a shock to the American higher education system. Multi-million grants in Georgia have been terminated, sinking research projects midflight. Diversity, equity and inclusion programs have been restructured to comply with new federal mandates. International students fearing deportation have seen their immigration status canceled without warning. Will this unprecedented moment in higher education be met with protest as Georgia students celebrate their academic achievements? Georgia has recent experience with presidential protests. Last year, then-President Joe Biden was met with some criticism at Morehouse College. When Biden's motorcade arrived to the private historically Black college for his commencement speech, a protester held a sign calling him "Genocide Joe." Several dozen marched toward campus calling for a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war and accused Biden of enabling Israel's bombing of Gaza. Inside the ceremony, a professor and a few students turned their backs to Biden during his commencement address. |
| After Feds Warn U. of Virginia It Is Moving Too Slowly, Board Quickly Rescinds Diversity Goal | |
 | Four years ago, the University of Virginia Board of Visitors endorsed a call to double the number of underrepresented faculty by 2030 and to develop a plan for building a student population that better reflected the state's racial and socioeconomic diversity. The university's president, James E. Ryan, said the move signaled that "becoming a more diverse, equitable place is both the right and the smart thing to do." On Tuesday, the board voted unanimously to rescind any such numerical goals as part of a sweeping effort to wipe out evidence of diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts. The Trump administration had warned university officials, only the day before, that it had received complaints that the university wasn't acting fast enough to carry through on its promise to "dismantle DEI apparatuses." The about-face at Virginia comes as colleges nationwide are scrubbing and scrapping evidence of diversity initiatives that they enthusiastically supported in 2020 at the height of the Black Lives Matter social-justice movement. Presidents like Ryan are in the hot seat, many torn between their desires to push back against what they see as government overreach and their need to hang on to their jobs. |
| Agency at Stake: The Tech Leadership Imperative | |
 | One in three chief technology and information officers says their institution is significantly more reliant on artificial intelligence than it was even last year, according to the Inside Higher Ed/Hanover Research 2025 Survey of Campus Chief Technology/Information Officers, published today. Yet those same campus tech leaders also indicate their institutions are struggling with AI governance at a time of upheaval for higher education. The fragmentation in campus technology policies and approaches is only adding "another layer of uncertainty" to the general chaos, said Chris van der Kaay, a one-time college CIO and current higher education consultant specializing in AI policy. Some additional disconnects: Only a third of campus tech leaders say investing in generative artificial intelligence is a high or essential priority for their institution, and just 19 percent say higher education is adeptly handling the rise of AI. This, combined with technology companies' growing influence in society and the sector, raises big questions about college and university agency in defining how AI will shape their futures. |
| Trump team's science cuts threaten tenure hopes for early-career academics | |
| Epidemiologist Candice Johnson was just getting started as a faculty member at Michigan State University (MSU) in East Lansing when US President Donald Trump took office. Since then, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has cancelled a research contract that it had awarded her and that covers 5% of her salary. And the Trump administration effectively eliminated the US National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, one of the main sources of funding in Johnson's field. Johnson studies health disparities in the workforce, particularly in under-represented groups -- a challenge given that Trump's team is targeting what it has called "radical and wasteful" government spending on diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) efforts. She's worried about her future in research -- and in particular, about her prospects of receiving tenure, a status in the US academic system that, once attained, guarantees researchers a faculty position that can be terminated only under extreme circumstances. Johnson's 'tenure clock' has started, and she would normally be expected in the next five years to apply for tenure by demonstrating her accomplishments, including articles published and research grants secured. But with the chaos brought by the Trump administration, "it seems to be an impossible thing to try to plan out the next five years not knowing what's going to happen", she says. Johnson's not alone. |
| NIH under siege: After Trump's first 100 days, agency scientists say U.S. health institutes are demoralized and have lost essential staff and funding | |
| On a cool, sunny, mid-April day, the cheerful redbuds and other flowering trees amid the sprawling labs on the National Institutes of Health (NIH) main campus belied the pervasive gloom. Nearly 3 months into President Donald Trump's administration, NIH in-house scientists and other workers were reeling from mass layoffs of colleagues; the removal of leaders; and limits on travel, communication, and purchasing that have shut the agency off from the outside world, hamstrung experiments, and crushed the community's spirits. On that spring day in Bethesda, Maryland, one senior scientist lamented that two star colleagues in his institute were heading back to their native China from NIH, abandoning a destination that had always drawn talent from around the world. "I want to cry," he said. Another pointed to the abrupt retirement the previous day of a noted NIH nutrition scientist who said the agency had censored his publications and interactions with the media. The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), billionaire Elon Musk's quasi-official White House enforcer, "pops in and out" of online meetings of senior leaders, the scientists said. Another researcher, who is not a U.S. citizen, mentioned that he has prepared a "deportation plan," including a company lined up to ship belongings back to his native country, in case he's fired and loses his work visa. The atmosphere is one of "chaos and fear and frustration and anger," said a senior scientist with NIH's intramural research program who, like others, spoke on condition of anonymity to protect themselves and others from retribution. This scientist added: "It's this feeling of utter powerlessness and repeated insults." |
| European Governments Back Universities' U.S. Recruitment Drive | |
| European governments have sought to bolster their universities' efforts to recruit international researchers, amid signs that an expected exodus in U.S.-based scholars is beginning. On April 23, Norway's education ministry announced the creation of a $9.6 million initiative, designed by the Research Council of Norway, to "make it easier to recruit experienced researchers from other countries." While the program will be open to researchers worldwide, the ministry said, research and higher education minister Sigrun Aasland suggested in a statement that the recruitment of U.S.-based scholars was of particular interest. Last week, the French ministry of higher education and research launched the Choose France for Science platform, operated by the French National Research Agency. The platform will enable universities and research institutes to submit "projects for hosting international researchers ready to come and settle in Europe" and apply for state co-funding. In Spain, meanwhile, Science Minister Diana Morant announced the third round of the ATRAE international recruitment program, with a budget of $153 million, which will run from 2025 to 2027. |
| Judge Releases Columbia Student, Comparing Detention Threats to Red Scare | |
| A federal judge in Vermont ordered the government to release Columbia University student Mohsen Mahdawi while his case proceeds, saying the Trump administration was threatening to deport legal residents for stating their political views. Mahdawi, a green-card holder, organized pro-Palestinian demonstrations at Columbia. Judge Geoffrey Crawford ordered Mahdawi's release on the condition he return for all court hearings. Crawford said legal residents were being arrested and threatened with deportation for sharing opinions, comparing the government's actions to the McCarthy era. "We certainly saw it in the Red Scare," said the judge, an Obama appointee. "The wheel of history has come around again, but as before these times will pass," the judge said. The Trump administration has detained students as part of a campaign to crack down on what it says is antisemitism and extremist ideology on college campuses. The government has singled out students with links to pro-Palestinian protests and activism. Department of Homeland Security spokeswoman Tricia McLaughlin said, "The Trump administration is committed to restoring the rule of law to our immigration system. No judge, not this one or any other, is going to stop us from doing that." Mahdawi is among the first detained foreign students to be released from federal custody since the Trump administration began ramping up arrests. |
| International students are rethinking coming to the U.S. That's a problem for colleges | |
| Miro, a 17-year-old high school senior living in Dubai, has dreamed of studying at an American college for as long as he can remember. After being accepted to several U.S. colleges earlier this year, he was weighing which to attend, proud to be heading to a country where he believed he'd meet people from around the world and gain the best job prospects in his planned major of mechanical engineering. Then a few weeks ago he saw a video on social media that changed his plans. The clip showed a Turkish graduate student at Tufts University on a street outside her apartment surrounded by plainclothes federal officers who handcuffed her and swept her away in an unmarked SUV. Miro learned from news reports that the doctoral student doing research on child development, Rumeysa Ozturk, had her visa revoked apparently because of a pro-Palestinian op-ed she cowrote for the student newspaper that federal officials say amounted to support of the group Hamas. Miro soon found other reports of foreign students suddenly losing their legal status to study in America for minor legal infractions, including speeding tickets. After talking with his parents, Miro said, "We decided to rule out the U.S. altogether." He added: "I just don't feel safe going to the U.S. right now." If more foreign-born students make calculations similar to Miro's, the consequences for some U.S. colleges and universities could be disastrous. International students make up about 6 percent of U.S. college students, and they typically pay 2 to 3 times the tuition of domestic students, effectively subsidizing other campus programs. |
| Heart-to-heart with Tommy Duff: Envisioning a bold future for Coastal Mississippi | |
| Ricky Mathews, the host of The Ricky Mathews Show and SuperTalk Outdoors on SuperTalk Mississippi, writes: Not long ago, I received a call that created a conversation I won't soon forget. Tommy Duff, a fellow Southern Miss alumnus and one of Mississippi's most remarkable sons, wanted to sit down and talk about Coastal Mississippi, its untapped potential, and its power to continue to propel our state forward. What unfolded was a heart-to-heart that left me hopeful and convinced that Mississippi is very fortunate to have private-sector leaders across this state with track records of dreaming big. Tommy was in Biloxi to speak to the Businessmen's Club, and we huddled afterward. Despite his staggering success -- building Southern Tire Mart with his brother Jim into the nation's top truck tire retailer, amassing a $3.3 billion fortune, and employing over 15,000 people -- he carries himself with a quiet, unpretentious grace. His story isn't just one of business triumph; it's a testament to what's possible when vision meets Mississippi grit in the heart of our great state. Southern Tire Mart, the state's largest privately-owned company, is more than a corporate giant; it's a legacy of lifting communities and creating opportunity. |
SPORTS
| Softball: First-Ever Ranked Matchup Between In-State Rivals Closes Regular Season | |
| For the first time in the history of the rivalry, Mississippi State and Ole Miss will meet with both programs ranked inside the NFCA Top 25. The No. 18 Bulldogs (35-15, 11-10 SEC) will host the No. 17 Rebels (34-14, 10-11 SEC) for three games beginning Thursday evening to close the regular season. The series is not just historic for its ranking significance, but it will also play a critical role in determining SEC Tournament seeding and which school in the state has the strongest resume to present to the NCAA Tournament committee in hopes of hosting a regional. With a series win, State would finish conference play above .500 for the first time since 2001 (19-11) and head coach Samantha Ricketts would break the school record for ranked wins by a head coach. Thursday night's game will feature a pregame, on-field graduation ceremony for the Bulldogs' senior class. It is also Samoan Heritage Night. Friday's game is Mental Health Awareness night, and the regular-season finale on Saturday will be the Bulldogs' senior day. That game will air nationally on SEC Network. |
| Bulldogs' Sacco, Chaffin receive 'golden tickets' to Athletes Unlimited Softball League | |
| Just 12 players will be selected in the inaugural Athletes Unlimited Softball League draft this Saturday, and two of them will come from Mississippi State. Star center fielder Sierra Sacco and ace pitcher Raelin Chaffin each were presented with a "golden ticket" at Tuesday night's Bulldogs baseball game, letting them know they will be drafted to one of the league's four teams. AUSL commissioner Kim Ng, the former Miami Marlins general manager, was there for the presentation. MSU and Virginia Tech are the only teams that have received two golden tickets. All but one have been handed out as of Tuesday. "We're just so proud of both Sierra and Raelin and what this means for the two of them, for the program, for women's softball," Bulldogs head coach Samantha Ricketts said. "We all are trying to do our best to grow the game, and I'm really excited about the AUSL and what it's going to bring to our sport. Excited to see these two in the inaugural season and get to join (former MSU star) Mia Davidson, and just have a lot of Bulldogs playing in the league this summer." Neither Sacco nor Chaffin started her college career in Starkville, but both have had their best seasons in the maroon and white. |
| Men's Golf: Mississippi State Punches Ticket To Seventh-Straight NCAA Tournament | |
| Mississippi State has punched its ticket to the NCAA Tournament as the No. 5 seed in the Reno Regional. This is State's seventh-consecutive NCAA regional berth, which extends a program record. "I'm very proud of this team and their dedication to our program and our goals," head coach Dusty Smith said. "Making the NCAA Tournament is not something we take for granted. It is something that is earned through sacrifice and consistency. We are excited for this next opportunity and know what is required of us to be at our best. We look forward to our regional preparation over the next ten days." The Bulldogs will travel to Montreux Golf & Country Club in Reno, Nevada, to play on May 12-14. The top five seeds will advance to the National Championship tournament in Carlsbad, California. MSU is joined in Reno by four teams ranked in the SCOREBOARD Top 25. The full field include seeds No. 1 Texas, No. 2 Virginia, No. 3 Alabama, No. 4 Duke, No. 6 BYU, No. 7 San Diego, No. 8 Santa Clara, No. 9 California, No. 10 Grand Canyon, No. 11 Sam Houston, No. 12 East Tennessee State, No. 13 Central Arkansas and No. 14 Fairfield. |
| Track & Field: Bulldogs Set To Close Out Regular Season At Home | |
| Mississippi State track and field will conclude the regular season on home turf, competing in the Maroon and White Tune Up. "We don't have many chances to compete in front of the home crowd, so we cherish any time we get to do so," said head coach Chris Woods. "This weekend is going to be a great opportunity for the athletes to have one more competition before the conference championship, as well as celebrate our graduating seniors." Thursday will be a shortened day, with only three events being contested. The day will begin with the hammer, followed by the discus throw, and will close with the 5000m. Marie Rougetet, program and freshman hammer record holder, will headline the women's hammer. Caleb Kaplan will look to improve on his No. 4 MSU all-time mark in the men's hammer tomorrow afternoon. The women's discus will follow shortly after, with the women competing first. Jewel Giles, who leads the squad in the event, will look to improve on her personal best, which is just centimeters off the MSU all-time list. The men's discus will have a small field, highlighted by decathlete Peyton Bair. The women's 5000m will be the sole running event on Thursday, with five Bulldogs set to compete. Friday will hold the bulk of both track and field events, as well as the senior celebration and the Greek Invite 4x100m relay. |
| The 'Mind-Blowing' Switch Pitcher Who Could Transform Baseball | |
| When Shohei Ohtani arrived in the U.S. with visions of becoming the first two-way Major League Baseball player in a century, few in the sport actually believed the experiment would work. But the Los Angeles Angels let him try to achieve what was thought to be impossible -- and three MVP trophies later, it's fair to say that Ohtani has proved the doubters wrong. "Because they had the willingness to do it," Seattle Mariners assistant general manager Andy McKay says, "we all get to see a generational type of player doing something that is just unbelievable." Which brings us to Jurrangelo Cijntje. Cijntje (pronounced SAIN-ja) is perhaps the top pitching prospect in the Mariners' organization. That would probably be the case even if he threw exclusively with his right hand. Except as he begins his professional career, Cijntje aspires for more. He says he wants "to do something that nobody has done before" -- by excelling at the highest level as a true switch pitcher. Never in modern baseball history has there been a player like Cijntje. Pat Venditte appeared in 61 games as a switch pitcher from 2015-2020, but he was a journeyman reliever. Cijntje was the 15th overall pick of last year's draft and received a signing bonus of nearly $5 million. The simplest approach would be to have the 21-year-old Cijntje ditch his southpaw aspirations in favor of his stronger side. Justin Parker, Cijntje's former pitching coach at Mississippi State University, admits that there were times when he would see Cijntje dominating as a righty and think to himself, "Selfishly, don't go back left-handed." That might be what happens eventually. But for now, the Mariners are giving Cijntje a chance to prove whether he too can accomplish something unprecedented, just as the Angels did with Ohtani. |
| House v. NCAA Settlement Has a Little-Known Federal Lobbying Provision | |
| The House v. NCAA settlement has several controversial provisions -- including one over roster limits that has prompted Northern District of California judge Claudia Wilken to threaten to reject it. But there's another, less talked about requirement that would prevent plaintiff counsel from engaging in some of the biggest debates in Congress over the future of athletes rights. The provision, laid out in a short paragraph in Article 7 of the settlement, aims to ensure the plaintiffs' lawyers won't disrupt the yearslong, multimillion-dollar federal lobbying campaign in Congress the NCAA and Power 5 conferences have waged to protect amateurism and rein in the athletes' rights movement. The settlement essentially says lawyers for the college athletes -- who have sued the NCAA -- must support any legislation in line with the settlement, and remain publicly neutral on key related issues, like athlete employment. Former Duke men's basketball player and attorney Richard Ford, who has studied the NCAA's lobbying efforts, filed an objection to the provision in January. "It would transform Class Counsel from advocates for their clients into lobbyists for the NCAA, creating a conflict of interest," he wrote in a letter to the court, calling the provision "unprecedented" and "extraordinary." |
| Trump Tariffs Hit Big Names as Sports Stocks Flounder in April | |
| Sports stocks were roiled in April as ongoing fears of the impact of the Trump tariffs on prices and consumer sentiment created concerns for all types of businesses in the sports world. While the month saw some of the biggest one-day drops (a 7% plunge on April 3) and jumps (10% leap on April 9) during the five years of the Sportico Sports Stock Index, the wild swings put the index almost back to where it began -- down 1% for the month, finishing at 1,294 with the close of trading Wednesday. "This month, U.S. stocks experienced record trading volume, historic intra-day price swings and widespread technical damage as a storm of uncertainty fueled a sharp equity market sell-off. Nonetheless, stocks held tough," said LPL Financial chief equity strategist Jeff Buchbinder in a Tuesday note on the broad market. The S&P surrendered as much as 11% in April before clawing back most of the losses. Similar, the sports benchmark had tumbled as much 7% in the month before retaking most of its ground. Still the modest losses augur tough times ahead. Over the past 75 years April is one of the best three trading months of the year. When stocks decline in April the rest of the year typically posts a loss, Buchbinder noted. It's already been a tough 2025 for sports stocks after an early rally, with three-quarters of the 40-component sports stock index in the red, placing the index down 5% this year given investors' anticipation of trouble from the trade wars. |
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